Centering device for lathes.



No. 767,326. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. J. E. BEHRINGER. GENTERING DEVICE FOR LATEES.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED rma. 15. 1902. 11o MODEL.

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W/ TNE SSE S Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT Orricn.

JOHN F. BEHRINGER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CENTERING DEVICE FOR LATHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 767,326, dated August 9, 1904.

Application filed February 15,1902. Serial No. 94,278. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. BEHRINGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centering Devices for Lathes; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in centering devices for lathes.

The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device for supporting and centering a spindle while it is being operated upon while on a lathe.

My invention therefore consists in providing a centering` device arranged to receive spindles of different siz'es and provided with means for centering the spindle and preventing it from chattering.e

My invention further consists in the features of construction and combination of parts as illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described in the specification. and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I represents a portion of a lathe provided with my improved device. Fig. -II represents a central section of my device. Fig. III is a section on lines III III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a section on lines IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. V represents one of the spring-jaws of my device detached.

Again referring to the drawings, Z represents the bed ofA a lathe which is provided with the usual head-stock and tail-stock Z and c2, respectively. In thebed Z of the lathe is arranged an endless screw Z, which extends longitudinally of the bed. This screw is operatively connected with the driving mechanism of the head-stock by means of gear Z in the usual manner. On the screw is arranged a carriage comprising the block c, which is provided with an internal screwthread c', adapted to engage with the screw Z), so that the turning of the screw will cause the carriage to move back and forth on the lathe-bed. On the top ofthe block cis formed a lug c2. An annular bracket or support is arranged above the lathe-bed and has its axis in line with the axis of the head-stock and the tail-stock. This support comprises a ring Z. A lug Zl is formed integral with the ring CZ and is rigidly secured to the lug on the block c. The ring Z comprises two semicircular sections Z2 and Z3, which are secured together by means of bolts Zt On the interior surface of the ring Z 4are formed grooves Z5, preferably two in number. Oil-ducts iZ6 are preferably formed in the ring Z.

e represents a chuck-head which is arranged to fit within the ring CZ and turn freely therein. On the outer surface of the chuck-head are formed annular ridges c', which are arranged to fit into the grooves Z5, formed on the interior surface of the ring Z. `The engagement of the ridges c' with the grooves Z5 lock the chuck-head of the ring Z. Of course the chuck-head is mounted in the ring before the semicircular sections Z3 and Zi are secured together. y

On the rear end of the chuck e is formed an annular flange e3; and between this flange e3 and the adjacent side of the ring Z are arranged three washers 64, preferably formed of steel. In the chuck-head e is formed a square bore c5, which extends from end to end thereof. The chuck-head e is recessed at its rear end to form a seat e around the bore ci. Vithin the bore c5 and at the respective sides thereof are arranged four platesf, preferably formed of steel. These plates are arranged to fit snugly in the bore c5, and the edges of each plate abut against its neighboring plates,

so that each plate is held in position by the frictional engagement with its neighboring plates. At the rear end of said plates f is formed a flange j, adapted to fit into the seat e0. The plates f taper toward their front ends and are also somewhat reduced in thickness in order to make them flexible. The front ends of the plates are sprung or bent in so that they normally stand away from the side of the bore c5 and form jaws which engage the sides of the spindle when it is introduced into the chuck-head. The plates f are readily removed from the head e, and plates of a greater or less curvature may be arranged in the bore c5, as desired.

The operation of this device is as follows:

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Before the machine is started the carriage carrying the chuck-head is moved down toward the tail-stock. The spindle is then shoved through the bore in the chuck-head, and its ends are secured in the usual way in the head-stock and tail-stock. The cutting'- tool is thon arranged to operate upon the spindle at a point between the tail-stock and thc chuck-head, and as the machine is operated the carriage will move toward the headstock, drawing the chuck-head along on the spindle, and the `Hange @3, bearing against the side of the ring fl, takes the strain which would otherwise be on the ridges d, as it takes considerable power to overcome the friction between the jaws or plates f and the spindle, as these jaws are arranged to grip the spindle with a pressure in the neighborhood of twelve hundred pounds in order to hold the spindle perfectly rigid while itis being operated on. The washers e" lessen the friction between the surfaces and the flange e3 and the surfaces of the ring (il.

By providing a chuck which precedes the tool in the same relative position it will be obvious that the stock will be prevented from wabbling, and consequently any chattering on the-stock caused by the tool will lbe obviated. Prior, devices, so far as l am aware, embrace supports which are stationary during the operation of the tool, and naturally when the carriage carrying the tool has reached the support while traveling either by hand or screw-feed on the bed of the lathe it is necessary to stop the operation of the carriage and tool until the support is moved farther along' the bed in the direction the carriage is traveling. ln my device this is entirely obviated,

since the chuck or work-support at all times moves with the tool and in the same relative position thereto, which has the further advantage of steadying the stock at all times, since the tool with relation to the position of the chuck does not vary.

lith the old style of centering and supporting devices great care has to be exercised in selecting the stock before it is introduced into the centering and supporting device, for if the stock be too small in cross-section the spindle will wabble and chatter, making it impossible to produce a regular design and frequently resulting' in injury to the operating-tool. Therefore in order to avoid this danger the stock introduced into the supporting and centering device is made to it so close that if there be the slightest enlargement at the opposite end to the end first introduced it will result in splitting the centering device.

Vhen using my improvedmlevice much less care has to be used in selecting the stock, as my device will accommodate a considerable variation in the size of the stock, and also a great saving' can be accomplished, as irregular sizes of stock can be worked up which would otherwise have to be discarded.

That I claim is- A device of the type set forth comprising in combination with a support a chuck-head arranged within said support and adapted to rotate therein` a square bore extending from end to end of the said chuck-head, a seat formed in the rear end of said chuck-head around the said bore, and spring-plates arranged within the said bore at each side thereof, said plates being provided with flanges at their rear ends adapted to fit into the seat at the rear end of the said chuck-h ead, said plates fitting against the walls of the chuck-head bore, and having their side edges in abutting engagement, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

ln testimony whereof I sign the foregoing specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 25th day of January, 1902, at Cleveland, Ohio. l

JOHN F. BEHRINGER. Witnesses:

Vieron C. LYNCH, DANIEL E. DALY. 

